We live in a society based on cowardice, fear, and a desire to be 'safe' at all costs.
Most of those things that you are equating with device use are passive activities. Do you stare at the radio while listening? Do you turn around to talk to a passenger in the rear seat? Do you swerve the car to look at a billboard?
Drivers who are affected by passive distractions are usually inexperienced. That's one of the reasons why new teenage drivers are usually restricted from carrying teenage passengers, driving at night, etc.
Device usage, especially smartphones, is totally different. They are active distractions that involve your sight, touch and hearing. People tune out the world as they text or futz around on the phone -- anyone who has seen a colleague walk into a wall or hunch over a BlackBerry in a meeting can attest to that.
I don't want to die or be injured because some careless idiot needs to carry on some inane text banter with a friend. You can call it cowardice, I call it common sense.
That said, I still oppose this proposal. It's impossible to enforce without invasive hardware and software requirements, and it would inevitably be abused by cops needing to meet their quotas, e.g. ticketing people who are texting or checking maps at red lights.
I guess this is to prevent people from not noticing when the green light goes on. I don't think I've seen any less people talking on their phones while driving though :(
http://blogs.canoe.ca/canoetech/in-the-news/tough-alberta-di...
The freedom of movement is impaired with your elbow in the awkward position. Also when I do it, my elbow and hand blocks my view to the blind spot on that side.
I assume the obvious physical limitation makes at least some drivers more aware that they should keep some focus on the road.